135: Tiandou Black Market

Shen Xiaochuan followed the Sanyan people to the Tiandou Black Market, and was attacked by a twenty-meter-tall black bear on the way.

After a brief fight, the black bear retreated.

He hid behind a large rock, his hand still pressed against the metal box.

The black bear let out a roar, the ground cracked, and gravel flew up to hit his face.

He squinted over; the black bear was even larger than before, with magma flowing down its body that smoked upon touching the ground, carrying a scent of rust.

The Sanyan people shouted from high above: "The chains won't hold much longer!"

Shen Xiaochuan didn't speak, staring at the golden chains wrapped around the black bear.

There were cracks on the chains that were growing larger.

He knew this move could only hold for a few more seconds.

"Go!" He waved for the two aliens to retreat, then turned and ran himself.

The three of them rushed down the slope.

Behind them, there was a loud boom as the chains exploded.

The black bear broke free and roared loudly, shaking stones from the canyon walls.

It looked down at the clearing, snorted two puffs of white Qi, and instead of chasing, turned and walked into the depths of the canyon.

Shen Xiaochuan stopped and leaned against a broken rock to catch his breath.

Sweat flowed into his eyes, stinging sharply.

He raised his hand to wipe it away, then instinctively touched the purple gold card inside his combat suit to confirm it was still there.

"It's gone." Sanyan Person 2 walked over to his side, still holding the remnants of the grenade device, "We were lucky."

"It wasn't luck." Shen Xiaochuan shook his head, "It didn't want to fight to the death here. It was already angry, but chose to go back—which means it is the boss here."

The Sanyan people looked at each other without speaking.

The wind blew sand and dust across the wasteland, and in the distance, a dark gray shadow appeared, looking like an old city.

Shen Xiaochuan watched for a moment: "Is that the Tiandou Black Market?"

"Yes." The Sanyan person nodded, "We will take you in. There are guards at the entrance, but we are Observers and can be exempt from inspection."

"Why are you helping me?" Shen Xiaochuan asked.

"You saved us twice." Sanyan Person 2 said, "Once by using 'Heaven's Punishment' to hold it off, and once by allowing us to throw the grenade. Where we come from, saved lives must be repaid."

Shen Xiaochuan stopped asking.

He brushed the dust off his clothes and followed them forward.

The closer they got, the larger the city appeared.

The walls were at least fifty meters high, with glowing patterns on the surface that seemed to breathe.

Platforms floated in the air with people trading on them.

There was a queue at the entrance with all kinds of creatures: winged lizardmen, Sand Walkers wrapped in cloth, and slave teams wearing iron collars passing through slowly.

The guards were four soldiers: two mechanical bodies, one minotaur, and one cloaked figure whose race was unclear.

They held long spears with blue light on the tips, clearly not ordinary.

The Sanyan people stepped forward and raised their arms, the flame patterns on their foreheads glowing with red light.

The guards glanced at them and waved them through.

"You can come in." The Sanyan person said to Shen Xiaochuan, "But we only guarantee you can enter; we don't guarantee what you do inside."

Shen Xiaochuan nodded and walked in.

As soon as he entered the city, the smell hit him—roast meat, rotting leaves, burning metal, and a hint of blood.

The streets were wide, with black bricks paved on the ground.

The houses on both sides were uneven, some dug into the mountains, others pieced together from spaceship scrap.

Overhead, transparent screens scrolled advertisements: "Rare battle pet cubs, limited-time auction," "Human slave-girl, good Physique, suitable for sacrifice or breeding."

He glanced at the price; the cheapest started at three thousand faith points.

"Is there no law here?" He asked in a low voice.

"Whoever is strong makes the rules." Sanyan Person 2 said, "The black market is managed by the 'Lord of the Black Market,' and there are only two rules: no killing, and no disrupting trade. Everything else is fine."

Shen Xiaochuan stopped speaking.

He looked at the people on the street; many human slaves wore collars and were led by overseers.

Their eyes were hollow, and no one looked up.

"Thanks for the directions." He said, "I can go on my own from here."

The Sanyan people looked at him: "Why did you come? To buy people? Trade things? Or hide from enemies?"

Shen Xiaochuan looked at his compatriots in the cages, feeling very uncomfortable.

He thought about how his clan was dwindling and that spring plowing was almost here, but there weren't enough hands.

If there was no one to work, there would be no harvest this year.

He decided he must buy these people.

"Need people to work." Shen Xiaochuan said, "Spring plowing is almost here, and there are too few people in the city."

"Then go to the East District." Sanyan Person 2 pointed in a direction, "That's where the most slaves are, but it's also the most chaotic. Don't cause trouble."

After speaking, the two left and soon disappeared.

Shen Xiaochuan stood at the intersection and took a deep breath.

The wind blew the hem of his blue work uniform, and the copper gear pendant on his cuff swayed slightly.

He touched his chest to confirm the metal box was still there, then walked toward the East District.

The further in he went, the more people there were.

Strange things were displayed on the roadside: alien eyeballs soaking in liquid, carved bones, and stoves emitting black smoke.

A vendor was slaughtering a six-legged beast, blood flowing all over the ground, and someone was reaching out to catch the blood to drink.

He bypassed them and walked into a narrow alley.

Sounds of whips and low crying came from ahead.

He walked over quickly and saw an open-air stall.

Five or six men and women were locked in iron cages, kneeling on the ground.

A werewolf held an electric whip and was whipping a thin girl.

She wore rags, there were already several burn marks on her back, her hair was messy and covered her face, and her body was trembling slightly.

"If you don't listen, you get beaten." The werewolf grinned, "Who wants to try next?"

A dozen people stood around, including lizardmen, Sand Walkers, and a few human mercenaries wearing leather armor.

No one spoke; some were taking pictures with recorders, others were laughing softly.

Shen Xiaochuan pushed through the crowd and walked up to the overseer.

As the electric whip was about to fall, he reached out and grabbed it.

With a forceful squeeze, the whip deformed, the wires broke, and sparks scattered everywhere.

The werewolf was startled and jumped back abruptly: "What are you doing!"

Shen Xiaochuan looked at him, his voice very steady: "She is my kin."

The werewolf sneered: "Kin? Here, only money talks. Do you have money?"

Shen Xiaochuan didn't answer; he took the purple gold card from his inner pocket and flashed it in his palm.

The card emitted a golden light that shone on the werewolf's face.

The werewolf's pupils constricted.

The purple gold card was not an ordinary card; it could be used in the top-tier trading zone.

There were less than twenty such cards in the entire market.

"You... are qualified to negotiate." The werewolf's tone changed, but he still threatened, "But this batch is sold as a package; if you want to buy them all, you have to find the people above."

"Then go find them." Shen Xiaochuan looked at the people in the cages, his voice low, "I want all of these people."

The onlookers began to whisper.

"Are they crazy? One person buying a whole group?"

"He looks like a mechanic, where would he get the money?"

"Maybe it's a big shot in disguise."

The werewolf stared at him, his mouth twitching: "Do you know how much this batch costs? It starts at thirty thousand faith points. I don't make the call."

"I'm not in a hurry." Shen Xiaochuan said, "Go call someone who can make decisions. I'll wait here."

The werewolf grunted, turned toward the wooden house in the back, and glared at him before leaving.

Shen Xiaochuan stood still.

The girl in the cage slowly looked up, revealing a pale face, chapped lips, and eyes full of fear and numbness.

He met her gaze and nodded gently.

A new message flashed on the screen on the distant wall: "S-Rank exotic beast 'Armored Tyrant Bear' has returned to its nest, ecological Rank adjusted."

The wind blew through the alley, rolling up a layer of dust.

He raised his hand to touch the copper gear pendant, his fingertips touching the cold metal.